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Would you knowingly do business with a Muslim business?

Discussion in 'Other Discussions' started by Johnv, Aug 24, 2009.

  1. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Probably a strange questionfor some of you. I ask this because of an incident that came up this weekend.

    Within a block from my house is a mom & pop burger joint. It's run by a local Muslim family. Their burgers are the best I've ever had, their customer service is top notch, and their prices are reasonable. I've been eating there for years, and, while I can't say I know them personally, they always ask how my family is doing, and what's new. Sometimes my family will stop by on our way home from church, and they'll ask us how church was, and we'll usually tell them.

    The reason I bring this up is, I invited someone from church to join us for lunch, and when she found out it was Muslim run, she said absolutely not, and gave us a lecture on how we shouldn't be "patronizing them". I was quite offended, frankly.

    So, I thought I'd extend the question to you good folks. What if you found out your local pizza joint, burger joint, mechanic, etc, was Muslim-run? Would it make a difference to you? If so, how? Do you think this person from church was bring a bit unrighteous?
     
  2. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    It would make no difference to me. If they sell a good burger, and I'm hungry...I'm a customer :)

    People take these boycotts and stances too far, IMO. If they knew the CEO's, BOD's and ownership of half the places they do business at they would be surprised. People with such a hard line stance on such trivial issues need to own a farm, spin their own cotton for clothes, and never spend money on anything.
     
  3. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I do not look at the religion or anything of a business owner or their employees unless they are doing something spiritual. So I don't care if the burger joint is owned a Muslim and I would pray that my influence on them might someday bring them to Christ. It is wonderful that they ask about church - and I would just be open about the Word of God and what I might have learned in church. I'd honestly get some facts and then ask your friend if he buys certain products - or visits a particular store - because those products and those other stores are not associated with Christianity. Jeepers - if we were only going to go to Christian companies, we'd be pretty much running all over creation to try to find them!
     
  4. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    I do try to make an effort to patronize Christian business, but on the other hand I often stop in a C-store that is own by a Muslim.

    Is it wrong - NO! Unless there was unwavering proof they were sending profits to groups advocating the overthrow of the US (and that would go for any religion, race, ect...)

    By going there, you get to know them, and trustfully a door will open to present the gospel.

    Salty

    PS I especially love their double pizza :thumbs:
     
  5. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    The comments so far as quite encouraging. By treating the people who run the business with love and respect, one is sharing the love of Jesus with them.

    BTW, halal (similar to kosher in judaism) meat has got to be some of the best quality meat I've ever had. Must be why their burgers are so delicious.
     
  6. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    I think another point is this: are Muslims somehow more lost than atheists, agnostics, or any other false religion? Do these people ask every vendor what their religiion is prior to making any purchase? If not, they are hypocrites.
     
  7. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    Wouldn't bother me, after all I'm a paying customer, not looking to be involved them, I wouldn't chose people from false religions as friends though. As long as they aren't trying to get me to join them in their false religion I see no problem with visiting their legitimate business.
     
  8. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    Do they use gas that comes from Muslim oil? I think I would rather have eaten with the Muslim.
     
  9. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    For me it depends on the situation. If they are just a business that happens to be owned by muslims and there is no muslim influence, I wouldn't have an issue. If however, there were items in the place of business that showed their allegiance to a false god, I would think twice about doing business there. Basically, if they are displaying their beliefs in such a way that it is effectively evangelizing for their false religion, I'll stay away.

    It doesn't just apply to muslims either. If I went into a place of business and they had a sign that read "There is no God", I'd walk out. Same goes for other beliefs that are false.
     
  10. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    Thank you Matt Wade, this is what I meant but didn't know how to say it.
     
  11. Hardsheller

    Hardsheller Active Member
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    Enjoy the Burger.

    I frequent a Chinese restaurant regularly and it doesn't matter to me whether the owners are Buddhist, Atheists or whatever, they have the best Chinese food in town.
     
  12. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    I met the Muslims I talked about in my other post, when their son took driving lessons from me. Later he took my safe driving class. When I came to the subject of alcohol, I asked who did not drink. This individual raised his hand and said he religion forbade it. But guess what they sold in their convenience store - (you get three guesses and the first two don't count! :smilewinkgrin: )
     
  13. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Is it really the food or the fact it is a "all-you-can-eat buffet! :thumbs:

    Actually the GSAE* meets for its monthly meeting at a Chinese restaurant.

    Salty

    GSAE - Greater Syracuse Association of Evangelicals
     
  14. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    I don't think that's any particular issue. I've got a local deli run by a Jewish family (but it's not a kosher deli), and they have pork products for sale. I buy from them all the time.

    Now that I think of it, why should it be an issue that I'm patronizing a Muslim business, but there's no issue with me patronizing a Jewish business? There should be no issue at all, methinks.
     
    #14 Johnv, Aug 24, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 24, 2009
  15. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Methinks I agree with you. :jesus:
     
  16. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    Count me in, Salty!!!!!!!!!:type::godisgood::thumbs:
     
  17. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    If you didn't patronize businesses owned by Muslims around here, you could not take most taxis and would have to avoid a lot of 7/11's and other businesses! Some franchise places are run by Muslims as well. Most taxi drivers here are Muslim - I would say 90% of them, maybe more. The rest are Hindu mixed in with other groups.

    And if you extended that to not patronizing businesses owned by non-Christians, you would basically not be able to eat or shop anywhere in this area. I have no idea who owns large grocery chains such as Safeway, Giant, etc. but I'm sure most Christians don't stop to find out if the owners are Christians. I guess they are corporations. So what do you do then?

    This is a non-issue to me. I agree with others that it's a good chance to witness. Someone I know has witnessed to a young woman at a drug store chain here (she is either Hindu or Muslim). This person even brought her a Bible.
     
    #17 Marcia, Aug 25, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 25, 2009
  18. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    here we don't have a lot of muslims, not many at all really, we do have a lot of hindus though.
    I try to use christian business whenever possible, but soemtimes it isn't possible, and sometimes their service is a lot lower then others, or for some I can think of, the people aren't nice even though their christians.
     
  19. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    My experience with Christian Yellow Pages has lead me to avoid a business that advertises in them, until I know the business or know other Christians who have used them and found them to be honest and ethical.

    I have a good friend who, without investigating further, has been taken advantage of and cheated over and over and over, etc. by using businesses that claim to be Christian.
     
  20. Carolina Baptist

    Carolina Baptist Active Member

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    Just curious: Would they have joined you at a Chinese restaurant that has statues of Buddha displayed?
     
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